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Barritt to debut for England

JJ Harmse

Pretoria – Former Emerging Springbok and Sharks player Brad Barritt will make his England debut against the New Zealand Maoris at McLean Park in Napier on Wednesday.

Barritt, who last played for the Sharks in the 2009 Super 14 and represented the Emerging Springboks in the Nations Cup in 2008, plays for English team Saracens these days.

He was picked for England’s B team, the Saxons, last year and has been called up from America where the Saxons are currently contesting the Churchill Cup to play against the Maoris.

The match forms part of the Maoris’ centenary celebrations.

Barritt is the second South African to make his debut for England this year after Hendré Fourie played for them in their tour opener against the Australian Barbarians. He was injured in the match.

Meanwhile, Mils Muliaina returns for the All Blacks in their second Test against Wales in Hamilton on Saturday.

The regular All Black fullback has recovered from a calf injury and will play in his 83rd Test. He replaces Israel Dagg, who was concussed in the first Test against Wales.

Conrad Smith and Anthony Boric are also injured and are replaced by Richard Kahui and Tom Donnelly, with coach Graham Henry having made seven changes to his winning team from the first Test.

Daniel Carter sustained a calf injury after his 27 points in the first Test and Henry said that Aaron Cruden would play in his place if there are any problems.

“Things are looking up with a view to the Tri-Nations,” said Henry.

Australian coach Robbie Deans’s injury crisis ahead of the Test against Ireland in Sydney on Saturday is also continuing.

Digby Ioane dislocated his shoulder against England and will miss the Tri-Nations.

He will be replaced by Adam Ashley-Cooper who himself has just recovered from an ankle injury.

Will Genia broke his thumb and is battling time to play in the Tri-Nations. Luke Burgess will run out at scrumhalf.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney only picked veteran flyhalf Ronan O’Gara as a substitute and he will have to play his 100th Test off the bench.

Jonathan Sexton replaces O’Gara in the team seeking its first win in Australia since 1979.

Gordon D’Arcy has been omitted, with Paddy Wallace set to play centre. Chris Henry will make his debut at No 8.

The teams are:

England: Delon Armitage, David Strettle, Mathew Tait, Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton, Charlie Hodgson, Danny Care, Phil Dowson, Steffon Armitage, Chris Robshaw (capt), Geoff Parling, David Attwood, Paul Doran-Jones, George Chuter, David Flatman. Substitutes: Rob Webber, Dan Cole, Dan Ward-Smith, James Haskell, Ben Youngs, Shane Geragthy, Ben Foden.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Benson Stanley, Zac Guildford, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Substitutes: Aled de Malmanche, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Rene Ranger.

Australia:
James O’Connor, Drew Mitchell, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley. Substitutes: Huia Edmonds, James Slipper, Mark Chisholm, Matt Hodgson, Josh Valentine, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale.

Ireland: Robert Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary, Chris Henry, Shane Jennings, Niall Ronan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tony Buckley, Sean Cronin, Cian Healy. Suibstitutes: Damien Varley, Tom Court, Dan Tuohy, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Geordan Murphy.

 
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